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ydimmiy.
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October 9, 2007 at 11:59 PM #19234
granville1
ParticipantBlizzi, I think you spelled Sufi correctly! I need to explore Rumi’s poetry some time, I think he was a Sufi mystic.
Magus, yes, she would be motivated to put the clay on the statue quickly. That is why I said she would have carried packaged excrement into the church to save time – especially, as I noted, if the statue desecration, the pornographic altar card, and the altar dung incidents all occurred on the same night. You may be picturing the overdone phallus and breasts from the film, which presumably would have taken a significant amount of time to do. However, the book does not specify that the clay alterations to the statue were anything as elaborate as shown in the film. Stealth, secrecy, and timing all point to a quickly done job. Moreover, had Regan been away from the MacNeil house for any great amount of time, surely she knew she would be missed – another factor arguing toward stealth, secrecy… and speed.
October 9, 2007 at 11:59 PM #19231Themagus01
Participantwhen she put the clay on the statue of the virgin mary, you think she did that quickly too?
October 9, 2007 at 11:59 PM #19227granville1
ParticipantAw, shucks, Blizzi… If I had a really creative streak I would have attempted a true haiku.
Yeah, lunuso, I always thought the excrement was deposited via a bag, for sheer handiness and stealth and swiftness!
October 9, 2007 at 11:59 PM #19223Blizzi
ParticipantThe multi-talented granville is more impressive every day…
October 9, 2007 at 11:59 PM #19220Sofia
Participant“I’d always pictured her dropping it out of a plastic bag.”
I’ve always thought the same as well!
November 2, 2007 at 11:59 PM #19417etrigan69
Participant“On the last chapter it was stated that Burke went into her room because he heard noises and moans coming from it! He went up and Regan took him by the throat. She began to scream that he was diddling her mother and that he caused the divorce.”
I don’t recall this being in the novel at all. It’s been awhile since I read it but I may not remember.
Page number?
November 2, 2007 at 11:59 PM #19425Sofia
ParticipantIt’s on page 296 in one of my English versions. Page 319 in my Portuguese one. And page 237 on the first draft screenplay.
November 2, 2007 at 11:59 PM #19428etrigan69
ParticipantYour right, it’s Dennings speaking through Regan that says that.
November 2, 2007 at 11:59 PM #19430Sofia
ParticipantYes.. 😉
November 19, 2007 at 11:59 PM #13064Sofia
ParticipantIt was never implied in the novel that he molested her! On the last chapter Regan/demon states that Burke went into her room because he heard noises and moans coming from it! He went up and Regan took him by the throat, screaming that he was diddling her mother and that he caused the divorce.
Why do people want to believe that Burke was sexually abusing her??
November 19, 2007 at 11:59 PM #19580Sofia
ParticipantBlatty based Burke Dennings on J. Lee Thompson.
November 19, 2007 at 11:59 PM #19576RatBoy
ParticipantOr perhaps people are speculating that WPB is basing Burke on Roman Polanski.
He was (probbably still is) a child molester. 😉
June 20, 2011 at 5:30 PM #25304Pazuzus Petals
ParticipantSome people on imdb keep thinking that Burke was molesting Regan!
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Well, if he was, he certainly paid for it.
June 24, 2011 at 7:48 PM #25357granville1
ParticipantYeah, this is the myth that just won't die, spawned by narcissists who think they know more about Blatty's characters than Blatty himself: the unfortunate substituting of exegesis with eisegesis.
1. In the film, Regan's only objection to Burke Dennings is her imagined scenario of Burke replacing Dad Howard in Chris's affections. Period.
2. In the novel, Regan's only objection to Burke is her imagined scenario of Dennings replacing Dad Howard in Chris's affections. Period.
3. In both novel and film, it is strongly suggested that Regan's imagined scenario of Burke/Dad displacement was itself planted by Captain Howdy, and therefore not even related to any real-life dynamics among Regan, Burke, and Chris.
4. The novel further elaborates on Burke's kindness and thoughtulness “while sober”, and it never hints that Burke, when drunk, becomes a child molester. Rather, he verbally confuses and abuses others, then falls asleep dead drunk (explained specifically by Blatty on the night of Chris's dinner party; used as a plausible explanation for Burke's fatal plunge down the steps).
5. Most important, the novel's and the film's only molester is the demon itself. Period.
In all of Regan's physical and psychiatric procedures, not one hint of molestation or any other kind of abuse (other than self-inflicted injury during Regan's own “fits”) is found or implied.
6. Those whose self-importance drives them to “know” Blatty's characters better than Blatty himself also conveniently ignore other possible sources of “child molestation” in the story, e.g., Karl Engstrom, who has almost unbroken possibiilities of contact with Regan, and who Blatty describes as tall, strong, and lithe. Karl also has “daughter issues” which might cause him to interact with Regan inappropriately; Sharon Spencer, Regan's tutor who spends long hours in the house with Regan, etc. Of course none of these “candidates” are real suspects any more than is poor Burke Dennings. I mention them only to show how stupidly the molestation enthusiasts leap to Dennings as a culprit but conveniently let others off the hook
It bears repeating: in both the novel and the film, the only child abuser is the demon itself. No other is needed, mentioned, or implied.
June 25, 2011 at 5:06 AM #25361fatherbowdern
ParticipantAgreed! Don't you think the driving force behind the molestation theory is when Dennings speaks through Regan at the end of the crucifix masturbation scene? I believe some folks are taking a way too simple approach about Dennings.
Father Bowdern
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